Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. I felt like a little kid. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Fraser said that at the time, he panicked: "I felt ill. Have I stopped myself? The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is a group of just 87 critics, and the LA Times report said the group has no Black voting members. Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe reveals 'promise' she made to mother before her death, Emma Stones 'And' co-star Willem Dafoe had her slap him 20 times to get scene right, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck'. Compared to their previous plan, this timeline is significantly more specific, going through the steps that will be taken between May and August 2021. Absolutely. Absolutely. "I'm humbled to be elected by my peers and colleagues here at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and. According to Fraser, Berk placed his hand on his butt when they hugged at an HFPA luncheon. There have also been numerous claims that voters are easily swayed. ", Fraser recalled that when he left the room, he saw a police officer but could not bring himself to report what happened. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Although it's still up in the air whether or not this might be the final nail in the Golden Globes' coffin, some say that the Golden Globes simply aren't worth saving. And HFPA has stated that their payments are "vetted by a professional nonprofit compensation consultant and outside counsel, where appropriate. In order to be considered, journalists are required to pay a $500 membership fee in addition to being based in Southern California while working for a foreign publication, publishing at least four articles a year. And he starts moving it around. I thought I was going to cry. Absolutely., Berk responded to Frasers story by telling GQ it is a total fabrication. He admitted to writing a letter to Fraser about the incident but said his apology admitted no wrongdoing.. Shonda Rhimes, producer of the show "Bridgerton," even noted that HFPA rejected their press conference until the show became a "surprise hit. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Brendan Fraser, Sexual Harassment. And the pattern of men in power hurting the careers of those they have harassed or assaulted is in no way unique to the entertainment industry. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. (Reps for Fraser and the HFPA did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment). User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Do I feel like I need to say something? Winners included Paul Lukas, Jennifer Jones, and the film "The Song of Bernadette." Brendan Fraser Says Lost Superman Role Would've Been 'Faustian Bargain' Anyway: 'I'm Not a One-Trick Pony' History and future met for a close-up on Sept. 15 in the newly dedicated Hollywood Foreign Press Association wing of California State University, Northridge's Manzanita Hall. I haven't spoken to them in years, but they're my friends. With some even speculating that the IRS has reason to investigate, it's not unlikely that HFPA members may have to do more than attend a few seminars on diversity and sexual harassment. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock. Fraser also shared that he wonders if the HFPA retaliated against him after the incident by depriving him of Golden Globes invitations or other professional opportunities. Fraser didn't attend this year's Golden Globes, despite being nominated . "I felt ill. These steps involve hiring a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant, mandatory member training for both sexual harassment and DEI, and the creation of new bylaws and membership/reaccreditation process. I felt like a little kid. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. While there may seem like an over-saturation of award shows in 2021, at the time, they wouldn't have had any other awards shows to compete with, other than the Academy Awards and a few critics groups. Fraser said the incident led to him becoming depressed and messed with his sense of who I was and what I was doing. He also said it affected the trajectory of his career. In the midst of a crowded room, Fraser says, Berk reached out to shake the actor'shand, but instead grabbed his butt. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the 87-member organization that presents the Golden Globe Awards, issued a statement Saturday in response to increasing criticism concerning its lack of . A new profile of Fraser by GQ asks the same question, and adds more context to the answer: In an interview with the magazine, Fraser spoke publicly for the first time about his experience of sexual assault, alleging that he was groped by former Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) president Philip Berk in the summer of 2003. Berk wrote in his memoir that he did so in jest, but Fraser remembers the incident much differently. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. In the summer of 2003, then-president Philip Berk groped Brendan Fraser at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The group even adopted the motto, "Unity without discrimination of religion or race," according to Hollywood Foreign Press Association: A History. In a new interview with GQ, "The Mummy" star alleges that the HFPA's Philip Berk assaulted him at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the summer of 2003. Screenrant reports that WarnerMedia also joined the boycott and in their official press release, "called the HFPA out for a history of sexist, racist, and homophobic questions directed at actors and creatives at past press events.". I think it was. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. If you need help purchasing a product directly from Allure, go to our FAQ. On his way out, he met Berk, whose organization votes on the Golden Globes. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage). The HFPA investigated the accusation, but Fraser said the organization declined to share the full results of their investigation with him. The Los Angeles Times reports that the email was sent to everyone in the HFPA, including its "members, its staff and the group's general counsel and chief operating officer." The actor believes one of the reasons his career hit a standstill was because of an alleged incident with Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hosts the Golden Globes. I felt ill. the first of which spanned from 2003 . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Absolutely. In a new interview with GQ, The Mummy star reveals he was. However, in an official statement Friday the HFPA stated that "the report included alleged information that the association had previously been unaware of" and that it "stands firmly against sexual harassmentand type of behavior described in this article.". Former HFPA president Phillip Berk. Fraser went home and told his then-wife, Afton Smith,what happened. For many journalists, the HFPA has always had a "terrible reputation," and the news that it's a self-involved clique wasn't too surprising. Then, he said, the HFPA asked him to sign a joint statement saying the investigation found that Berk touched Fraser inappropriately but "the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance.". His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. said recently that after being sexually harassed, Meet the Sexual Assault Survivors Attending Trump's State of the Union, Terry Crews Reveals He Was Sexually Assaulted by a "High-Level" Hollywood Executive, What Is Sexual Grooming? . Absolutely, he said. After the incident, Fraser's representatives asked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for a written apology, and although Berk acknowledges that one was written, he insisted that his "apology admitted no wrongdoing." The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group behind the Golden Globes, has approved a new set of bylaws, in an effort to remedy the diversity and ethical issues that sparked. All Rights Reserved. And he starts moving it around, Fraser told the magazine, recalling becomingovercome with panic and fear. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. And he starts moving it around. According to Fraser, the assault happened when Berk reached out to shake Frasers hand on his way out of the hotel. ", It also doesn't help that HFPA member Margaret Gardiner "confused Daniel Kaluuya for another Black actor, Leslie Odom Jr., just minutes after Kaluuya's Oscar win.". Although the judge ended up siding with HFPA in November 2020, the lawsuit brought to light a number of the organization's "ethical conflicts, with members accepting 'thousands of dollars in emoluments' from the very same studios, networks and celebrities they conferred trophies upon.". Why do some of us start later than others? Absolutely.". Am I still frightened? Fraser can be seen asJames Fletcher Chace in Danny Boyles FX series Trust, which debuts March 25. I thought I was going to cry, he says. In 2020, Norwegian entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa sued the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after she was denied membership into the group. People reports in his 2014memoirWith Signs and Wonders: My Journey from Darkest Africa to the Bright Lights of Hollywood,Berk recalled pinching Fraser's buttin jest.. After the 2003 luncheon, Frasers representatives asked the HFPA for an apology, and Berk confirmed to GQ that he did write one. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. ", Kourtney Kardashian Shut Down a Fan Who Asked If She's Pregnant and Ignited a Debate About Women's Bodies. Soon after NBC decided to cancel the 2022 broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, actor Tom Cruise joined the boycott. He also said he did not care why Berk touched him. LOS ANGELES Brendan Fraser is joining the #MeToo movement, coming forward on Thursday with allegations of sexual assault by an ex-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Scott. His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint, Fraser said. One member confused Daniel Kaluuya for another Black actor, Leslie Odom Jr., just minutes after Kaluuya's Oscar win, while a former Hollywood Foreign Press president was expelled from the group . It's unclear whether or not any other stars will follow suit and physically return their own Golden Globes. In a group email with HFPA members, Berk reportedly. He rushed home and told his wife about the encounter, but was afraid to go public with the incident. The actor, 49, who can be seen next month in FX's Getty family drama Trust,says the experience messed with his sense of who I was and what I was doing. Work, he says, withered on the vine for me. . IE 11 is not supported. Feb. 21, 2021. Actor Brendan Fraser accused the former president of theHollywood Foreign Press Association of sexually assaulting him in 2003, the latest in a string of people to speak out in the #MeToo and Times Up movements. The actor said that the incident made him reclusive and he retreated from public life. There's many reasons, but was this one of them? Have I wanted to many, many times? "And he starts moving it around." Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. "Am I still frightened? I thought I was going to cry., After immediately leaving the luncheon, Fraser told his wife of the interaction but otherwise remained silent for fear of embarrassment and career damage. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. Jonathan Majors on Oscar Favorites, Bad Reviews, and the Road Trip That Made Him Realize He Was a Star, The Best Picture Race Got a Lot More Confusing This Week, Tom Cruise Made the Rounds This Week, but Other Oscar Nominees Got More Applause Than Top Gun: Maverick, How Michael B. Jordans Love of Anime Shaped Creed III Fight Scenes, Translating the Unconscious Into Images: The Cinematography of Bardo, Poker Face Takes Viewers on a Cross-Country Road Trip Without Leaving New York, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. However some, like Alexander Nevsky, joined because they were "just plain curious.". ADVERTISEMENT Amid outcry, NBC says it will not air Golden Globes in 2022 By JAKE COYLE May 10, 2021 As the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network points out, men who have survived harassment or abuse may experience intense shame that they were not "strong enough" to fight off an attack; their sexuality may also be questioned, leading many men to stay silent. For the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards were meant to be a way to "boost their profile." From 'Nymphomaniac' to 'Little Ashes': Unsimulated Sex Scenes in 36 Films, I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative, Fraser said. I call them friends in my mind. Berk, who is still a member of the HFPA, also did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment but has denied the assault ever happened to The New York Times. the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press . IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. This announcement came at the heels of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's (HFPA) inability to come up with adequate reforms to address the various criticisms levied at the organization. A cause of. Absolutely. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Brendan Fraser Says Former Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Assaulted Him. Berk, no longer president of the HFPA but still a member, told GQ Fraser'sversion of events "is a total fabrication.. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Philip Berk, 88, had been a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for 44 years and its president for eight years. Fraser alleged in an interview with GQ magazine that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk intimately groped him. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Brendan Fraser attends AOL Build to discuss his role in 'The Affair' at AOL HQ on Dec. 14, 2016 in New York City. He also wrote about the incident in his memoir, according to People, but Berk said he pinched Fraser in jest.. It made me feel reclusive. His career seemed on hold. Ad Choices. Brendan Fraser was at the peak of his career when he was sexually abused by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), as revealed in an interview published by GQ on Thursday. We want to reiterate that the HFPA understands todayas it did 15 years agothat what Mr. Fraser experienced was inappropriate. There was also an incident in 1999, when HFPA members were gifted $400 Coach watches by USA Films. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. (Berk denies that the HFPA retaliated against Fraser, telling GQ, His career declined through no fault of ours). Absolutely. As a member of the HFPA since 1989, he previously served as president in 2003-05. Fraser described in aninterview with GQthe moment that "overcame him with panic and fear.". Lorenzo Soria, the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association which runs the Golden Globe Awards died Friday at his Los Angeles home, a family member told Variety. "It made me feel reclusive," the . Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. It made me feel reclusive." And he starts moving it around. However, he said the note did not admit anything. I thought I was going to cry. The email itself was an article from conservative commentator David Horowitz's Freedom Center website, FrontPage Mag, although it didn't include a link or a citation and was simply copy-pasted into the body of the email. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Previously on the HFPAs Board of Directors from 2012-19, frequent German TV contributor Hoehne is one of the current board members. Still, for all the moves to bring in new members, diversity advisers, potential new leadership and administrators like an actual CEO, CFO, Chief Human Resource Officer and Chief Diversity Officer, the fact is that power player General Counsel/Chief Operating Officer George Goeckner remains firmly in place at the HFPA at least for now. Absolutely, he tells GQ. In 2003 he began researching the business case for climate action for the . This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.. Have I wanted to many, many times? Berk has repeatedly claimed that all he did was jokingly pinch Fraser's butt. Fraser's story is a reminder that while sexual misconduct is disproportionately experienced by women, it can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality. I dont know if this curried disfavor with the group, with the HFPA. These publicity firms had actually threatened to advise their clients to boycott the Golden Globes earlier in March if the HFPA didn't reform, following the Los Angeles Times investigation. I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative, he added. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association responded in a statement that reads: "The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article. NEW YORK (AP) The Hollywood Foreign Press Association on Thursday announced reforms to its bylaws and an overhaul of its membership process in a bid to diversify its ranks and potentially restore the heavily criticized Golden Globes. Your California Privacy Rights. In a new GQ profile titled What Ever Happened To Brendan Fraser?,the actor remembers being groped byPhilip Berk in the summer of 2003. The 88-year-old Berk, who served eight terms as HFPA president and was a member of the association for 44 years, sent an email sharing the post with the association's members, staff, general . And in 2019, HFPA members were flown to the set of "Emily in Paris," which later received two nominations. I felt like someone had thrown invisible paint on me., Though he told his wife, Afton, about what had happened at the time, Fraser told GQs Zach Baron that he didnt have the courage to speak up earlier, for risk of humiliation, or damage to my career.. Berk was the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization behind the Golden Globe Awards. Peter Jackson seems to confirm Weinstein blacklisted Mira Sorvino, Ashley Judd. "The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is thrilled to continue its relationship with CSUN, which now spans nearly two decades and has provided invaluable opportunities for deserving students to hone their craft," Soria said. retailers. In February 2021, the Los Angeles Times revealed that among the almost 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, there are no Black members, despite the group's own motto being "Unity without discrimination of religion or race." After the GQ story was published, the HFPA responded saying that it was investigating the incident. As the Golden Globes-presenting group hopes to find its way back into a Tinseltown power position, old-guarder Hoehne has her work cut out for her especially with NBC having pulled the plug on the 2022 Globes in May as the organization became mired in more and more controversy over its members/ behavior and its lack of a single Black member. Brendan Fraser claims ex-Hollywood Foreign Press president groped him. The actor claims that Philip Berk former president of the HFPA, the organization that hosts the Golden Globes inappropriately touched him in 2003. . You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. He was a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association since 1989 and served in the administration for 25 years he formerly held the position of president from 2003-2005 and 2015-2017. I watched this wonderful movement, these people with the courage to say what I didn't have the courage to say. Despite his inappropriate behavior, Philip Berk stayed on as a part of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Brendan Fraser Says Former HFPA President Sexually Assaulted Him and Derailed His Career In an interview with GQ, Brendan Fraser claimed that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. But Fraser said the HFPA refused to share the report. The organization drew widespread criticism for this year's slate of . Its investigation concluded that "the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke" and suggested issuing a joint statement with Fraser. Dave Quinn is an Editor for PEOPLE, working across a number of verticals including the Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams. I thought I was going to cry. Absolutely. The HFPA, meanwhile, declined to comment for GQ's story. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association ( HFPA) addressed their controversial diversity issue, namely the fact that the organization currently has no Black members, during Sunday night's. Absolutely," Fraser said in the interview. But when they first organized, they still weren't taken too seriously, and mostly all they did was "meet at various members' homes to share information." All rights reserved. Related . Do I feel like I need to say something? According to Fraser, former HFPA President Phillip Berk assaulted him following a luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Fraser revealed the alleged abuse in 2018,. June 7, 2018 / 2:27 PM Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Berk was the president of theHollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization behind the Golden Globe Awards. "I'm the only one who would know where I was touched on my body," he said to GQ. Brendan Fraser is the latest actor to come forward with his story of sexual assault in the wake of the #MeToo and Times Up movements. Please enter valid email address to continue. Fraser's account is disconcertingly reminiscent of reports from women in Hollywood who have spoken out about experiencing professional retaliation after being harassed or assaulted. Members receive payments for writing for HFPA's website and for working at the annual grants dinner in addition to the payments they receive for serving on the committees.

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